I have lived in Luton since 1975 and think of it proudly as my adopted hometown.  I had a long career at the Sixth Form College as a teacher and head of the Creative Arts department, latterly as Director of Learning responsible for curriculum innovation.  I remain a governor at Ashcroft High School, and chair of the committee for Curriculum, Students and Personnel. I am a Quaker and a member of the Luton Meeting.  I am also a very keen beekeeper, with around 16 hives, and act as Bedfordshire Beekeepers’ District Advisor for Luton.  I have an allotment at Limbury Mead. 

Environmental issues are of great concern to me. I view the threat of climate change as the overarching political issue, of overwhelming importance for the world.  Currently I am one of the Transition Luton Core Group that has initiated a movement to make Luton a Transition Town.  The Transition Town movement aims to strengthen communities and thus make them more resilient in dealing with the twin challenges of peak oil and climate change, through:

• awareness raising
• connecting with existing groups in the community
• building bridges to local government.